Vulcanizing apparatus



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. EVHATHAWAY.

VULOANIZING APPARATUS. N0. 459,632. Patented Sept. 15,1891.

I I w mmwa I Jnmswfiar 2 Sheets--Sheet 2.

(No Model) W. E. HATHAWAY. VULGANIZING APPARATUS.

Illlli% Patented S-e'pt. 15, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VVILLIAIWI 'E. HATHAVVAY, OF HORNELLSVILLE, NEW YORK.

VULCANIZING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming'part of Letters Patent No. 459,632, datedSeptember 15, 1891.

Application filed October 28, 1889. Renewed February 19, 1891- SerialNo. 382,018. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LWVILLIAM E. HATHAWAY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hornellsville, in the county of Steuben and State of NewYork, have invented new and useful Improvements in VulcanizingApparatus, of which the following is a specificat-ion.

My invention relates to that class of vulcanizing apparatus ordinarilyemployed by dentists; and the purpose thereof is to combine with the topor cover of the Vulcanizingvessel a follower carried by a shaft orpiston packed through the said cover and having a screw connection withan elastic yoke mounted on the cover, wherebya permanent elasticpressure of any desired degree may be exerted upon thevulcanizing-fiasks when first placed in the vessel or heater, saidpressure being increased or diminished to any extent desired andmaintained until the flasks are completely closed, which is indicated bya graduated scale or other suitable mark affixed to the piston or shaft,the arrangement of parts being such as to remove the screw entirely fromany possible contact with the steam,whereby its threads might be rusted.

The invention consists in the several novel features of construction andnew combinations of parts hereinafter fully set forth, and then definedin the claims following this specification.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my said invention, Iwill now describe the same in detail, reference being made to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a central vertical sectionof a vulcanizer embodying my invention, showing the flasks in place andpartly closed. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the top or cover. Fig. 3 is asectional elevation of a part of the cover, showing a modifiedconstruction. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing a further modification.Fig. 5,is a View showing a modification.

In the said drawings, the reference-nun] eral 1 denotes the body of theflask or vulcanizingvessel, which is provided at its top with acircumferential flange 2, having apertures at suitable intervalsprovided with female threads which receive threaded bolts 3. These boltsare provided at their upper ends with enlarged heads 4, surmounted bysquared ends adapted to receive a wrench.

The numeral 5 designates the top or cover of the vulcanizing vessel,having a central dome-shaped portion 6. Upon the lower face of thiscover and near its periphery is formed a groove or channel in which isinserted a packing-ring '7, which lies upon the edge of the vessel 1.Projecting from the periphery of the cover 5, at intervals whichcorrespond with the intervals between the bolts 3, are lugs orprojections 8, each of which is provided with a key-hole slot or opening9, the larger portion thereof being capable of admitting the enlargedheads 4 of the bolts, while the narrower part of said slot allows theshank or body of the bolt to pass. In socuring the cover upon the vesselit is brought into such position as to enable the heads of the bolts toenter the enlarged ends of the key-hole slots, after which, by a limitedrotary movement of the cover, the bolts are caused to pass into thenarrower portions of said slots, thereby bringing their enlarged headset into position to bear upon the lugs. A turn of the bolt will nowforce the cover down and clamp the packing-ring 7 tightly against theedge of the vessel, the pressure being readily adjusted by the severalbolts to give substantial uniformity and make a perfectly-tight joint.Upon the dome-shaped portion 6 of the cover is formed a packing-chamber10, through which passes a central vertical piston or shaft 12,surrounded by a gland 13, which is threaded and screws into thepacking-chamber to compress the packing against the piston. Upon thelower end of the latter is mounted a follower 14, having the form of aninverted cup, which enables it to be provided with a strong central boss15 to receive the end of the shaft or piston. Upon the dome 6 of thecover is mounted an elastic yoke 16, formed of any suitable metal orother material and expanded laterally in opposite directions to formspring-arms 17. Upon the central cross portion of this yoke, which isslightly depressed for the purpose, is placed an eye or loop 18, formingpart of a short threaded shaft or hanger 19. The threaded port-ion ofthis shaft or hanger engages the female thread of a turn-buckle 20,which is swiveled upon the reduced end 21 of the shaft or piston. Thisturn-buckle is provided with an angular portion 22 to receive a wrench,by which a downward thrust may be communicated to the piston byrevolving the turn buckle upon the shaft or hanger 19.

WVhen the flasks are placed in the vessel 1 in the usual manner with thecover clamped down by the bolts 3, as described, the follower 1-lisbrought down by revolving the turn-buckle until a proper degree ofelastic pressure is exerted upon the upper flask. As the heat increasesand the contents of the flasks are softened a further compression may bemade until the flasks are entirely closed, which is indicated by a scaleor mark 23 upon the piston. I may vary the form of the yoke 16 byforming coils 24 of one or more convolutions in the lateral arms 17. Imay also connect the ends of these arms to ablock or hearing 25 and tapan adjusting-screw 26 through said block, its end being swiveled in theupper end of the piston. Again, I may form the yoke of a single piece orfiat strip of spring metal screwed upon the dome 6 of the cover by itstwo ends and having a central aperture in which the head of theadjusting-screw is swiveled, as shown in Fig. 3, said screw beingprovided with a squared end 27 to receive awrench holding the screwwhile the turn-buckle is operated. In other respects the construction issimilar to that shown in Fig. 1.

I may use a coiled wire spring or a spring of other form and materialbetween the shaft 12 and the turn-buckle 20. This modification is shownin Fig. 5, in which the body of the heater, its top, and the generalform of the yoke are the same as already set forth. I mount, however,upon the piston or shaft 12 a collar 28, which forms a seatfor a spring29, coiled around the shaft, and in the lower end of the turn-buckle 20,which is expanded for the purpose, I form a seat for the other end ofsaid spring. \Vith this construction the yoke 17 need not be elastic,unless it is preferred, and I use a screw 30, swiveled in the yoke andhaving a head 31 to receive a wrench or key. This construction isequally efficient and convenient with the forms shown in Figs. 1 to r,inclusive.

I may interpose the elastic connection between the shaft and the yoke,either in the arms of the yoke itself, in which case the spring platesor coils form lateral extensions of the yoke, or I may avoid thisextension by inserting the spring as shown in Fig. 5, the elastic actionon the yoke being the same in both cases.

lVhat I claim is- 1. In a vulcanizing apparatus, the combination, with asuitable vessel or heater, of a cover, a shaft packed through said coverand having a suitable follower on its end, an elastic yoke mounted onand overhanging the cover, a threaded shaft or hangerhaving support onsaid yoke, and a turn-buckel swiveled on the reduced end of the shaftand engaging said hanger, substantially as described.

2. In a vulcanizing apparatus, the combination, with the removable coverof the heater, of a shaft or piston passing centrally through the sameand through a packing-chamber therein, a gland surrounding the pistonand compressing the packing, a yoke mounted on the cover and havinglaterally-extended elastic arms curved or coiled to increase theirelasticity and united above the piston, a hanger mounted centrally onsaid yoke and having a depending threaded portion, and a turn-buckleswiveled on the end of the piston and engaging the threaded part of thehanger, the piston being provided with a scale, mark, or index denotingthe closed position of the flasks, substantially as described.

3. In a vulcanizing apparatus, the combination of the cover having anorifice containing a packing, a yoke having two arms connected at theirlower extremities with the cover, and a lengthwise-movableexternallyspring-pressed shaft extending steam-tight through the packingand havingits upper end adjustably connected by a screw connection withthe cross part of the yoke between its two arms, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

WILLIAM E. H ATHAWAY.

Vitnesses:

CHARLES F. KEYSER, S. H. CRANE.

